President George W. Bush's often laughable butchering of the English language has found some legitimacy in the dot-com world this week, as yourDictionary.com, the self-proclaimed "last word in words," has included the memorable "misunderestimate," "embetter" and "resignate," in their list of 2002's top words.
This legitimization, while entertaining, is a dangerous precedent to set, as it implies that improper English is acceptable and that accuracy in speech is unimportant. Poor grammar is prevalent in modern America, and the fact that the president is as guilty as anyone shows a disturbing trend. Being the leader of the free world entails a certain responsibility, and while speaking correctly is not as demanding as negotiating a cease-fire, leading by example is very important.
The only reason that any legitimacy has been granted to Bush's "words" is that he is, in fact, the president. These words, or acceptance of them, are merely a trend, no different than retro football jerseys today, or flannel 10 years ago. YourDictionary.com's attempt at defining these ill-begotten bits of verbiage is nothing more than a fad, a cute attempt at capturing pop culture. To take seriously the idea that "misunderestimate" is now a word in either the classic, or colloquial sense, is silly.
Bush has made the lives of late night talk show hosts and comedians easier, providing more material with each auditory gaff. Conversely, the jobs of elementary school teachers are made continuously more difficult, as students hear and process the speech of their president, not realizing that "subliminable" is merely a mispronunciation and meaningless.
Some may argue that language's fluidity makes it all right for words to be added from the vernacular to the dictionary. This is, of course, true, a point that not even the most traditional English linguist would argue. Words like "Internet," "Web site" and "E-mail" have moved from the realm of technological jargon to accepted words in the pantheon of modern English. "Telephone" did not exist a century and a half ago, but because of the need to create new words for new concepts and creations, it is acceptable to add these. "Embetter," on the other hand, has no meaning; it is an error in speech. Errors like this, however charming the general populace might consider them, cannot be afforded the same standing as actual language. It literally makes no sense.
President Bush will long be remembered for who and what he is: a conservative Republican, the son of a former president, and a leader during times of crisis. There is even a chance that his struggles with the spoken word will be recalled in future generations, but any legitimacy bestowed to his mangled speech is bound to dissipate within a few years of his White House exit.
The public likes their leaders to have a certain degree of humanity, and because of that, many feel for Bush and his challenging relationship with words. In light of this, language in the short term will reflect the "King's" English, but there will be no truly lasting impact from his verbal escapades as far as standard English goes.
Hopefully, parents and teachers will make sure children who are impressionable and unaware that "Bushisms" are in reality flawed speech, do not emulate the commander in chief when speaking. Regardless of politics or current events, Bush ought to try to correct himself when he errs, and those who have a say in the minting of new words ought to maintain the integrity of the English language, regardless of how Bushisms "resignate" with the American people.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
